Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

After months of testing spy shots, teaser images, and a full-blown official Web release, we finally bring you live shots of the limited run Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package. And, oh yeah, it is coming to the US.

According to Lexus, no fewer than 15 units will arrive on American shores. Considering there will only be 50 units available in the world (out of 500 total LFAs), that's a significant chunk headed to US dealers. Production of the Nurburgring package LFAs begins in 2012.

The edition is aimed at very well heeled buyers wanting an aggressive factory tuned and warranted, track-capable LFA. Or if said buyer just has enough dough and doesn't really care for track prowess, it's the edition that looks cooler, is ultra-rare, and is guaranteed to make your equally wealthy neighbor extremely jealous.

Slapping a Nurburgring label onto the LFA means that it gets a number of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) parts, including revised front splitter and canards, sculpted side sills, and a fixed rear wing. Ride height drops by 0.4-inches for a better center of gravity. Mesh forged magnesium BBS wheels wrapped in stickier Bridgestone rubber provide a Gorilla Glue grip on tarmac.

To compensate for the newfound downforce (which bumps up drag and cuts speed), engineers squeezed 10 more horses from the Formula 1-derived 4.8-liter V-10 engine. All 562 horsepower is routed through a six-speed auto-clutch manual transmission that now blips off shifts in 0.15-seconds.

Like the car itself, exterior paint options are quite limited; only matte black, black, white, and orange can be had, while inside, buyers can choose between black/red, black/purple, or black/black themes. Unfortunately for Yankee buyers, only European and Japanese-spec rides will get a carbon fiber center console, door panels, and a pair of Recaro buckets wrapped in plush Alcantara.